Building Department

Welcome to the Town of Brunswick Building Department web page.  At the bottom of this page you will find many of the common applications for permits the Town Building Department issues.

New Email: buildingdepartment@townofbrunswick.org

Common things you need a permit from the Town for, subdivision of land, signs, structural changes in a building, roofs, pools, decks, sheds over 80 square feet, electrical changes, fuel burning appliances, land clearing or land filling, excavation for the purpose of constructing a structure, road or driveway and timber harvesting.  Call us first so we may help you with your project.

 

On June 22, 2017 the Town of Brunswick adopted a new Zoning Ordinance.  The new zoning code has a number of changes which affect how a property can be used.  Examples of allowable use are, can you have a bed and breakfast at your home, and can you have a home business or build a commercial dog kennel on your property.  The zoning code also provides information on the distances a structure or accessory structure can be built from the property line.   The new zoning code and map are found by clicking the links below. 

• Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Brunswick
• Town of Brunswick Zoning Map (4.3 MB)
• Town of Brunswick Fire District Map

 

There are a number of other key items to keep in mind if you are going to build in the Town of Brunswick.  The State of New York adopted the International Building Code in 2015 and updated the Energy Code in 2016 and the 2017 New York State Uniform Code Supplement was also adopted.  This all adds up to a lot of home work for anyone doing major renovations or new construction.

• Building Codes of the State of New York

 

The Town of Brunswick is also a MS4 community (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) as such the Town is responsible for overseeing any construction which disturbs more than one acre of land and the mitigation of any soil disturbance or discharge of materials which may impact stormwater quality regardless of size.  Examples are clearing a lot for building, building near environmentally sensitive areas such are creek, streams or wetlands or discharge of contaminants such as oil, pesticides or septic systems into the stormwater systems of the Town.  No land or clear cutting of trees can be done for building construction in the Town of Brunswick until a permit has been issued.

• Town of Brunswick Stormwater Page

 

The Building Department also coordinates all project which are reviewed by the Planning Board or the Zoning Board.

• Zoning Board meets the third Monday of every month at the Town Hall. The Zoning Board meets at 5:30 pm for a workshop meeting, and at 6:00 pm for the regular business meeting.

• Planning Board meets the first and third Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall

 

Please contact us to review your project early in the planing phase.   It is our goal to make sure you are well informed and your project moves forward in an efficient and expedient manner.  

 

Vacant Buildings

The Town of Brunswick has passed new legislation (Local Law No.1 of the year 2019) to more effectively deal with vacant buildings and the problems that vacant buildings present. As a result of this legislation, anyone who owns a vacant building (in the Town of Brunswick) must REGISTER their vacant building.

 

APPLICATIONS

To apply for a permit, bring the items listed below to the Building Department at the Town Office Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm.

• Commercial Building Permit Application

• Residental Building Permit Application  

• Before Pool Is Used

• Subdivision Application

• Minor Subdivision Application

• Major Subdivision Application

• Site Plan Review Application

• Demolition Permit Application

• Sign Permit Application

• NY State Unified Solar Permit

• Soil Disturbance, Fill Permit Applicaiton

• Special Use Permit - Planning Board

• Zoning Area/Use Variance Permit Application

• Change of Tenant Building Permit and Instructions

• Deck Instruction

• Public Water and Sewer Permit Application

• Permit for Individual Septic System from Rensselaer County Public Health Department (offsite links)

• Insurance Certificate with the Town of Brunswick named as additional insured. Acceptable forms are WC/DB-100, WC/DB-101, C-105.2, U-26.3, SI-105.2. Forms can be obtained through your insurance provider.

 

 

Minutes

See minutes from the Planning Board, Zoning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals

 

 

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